Chapter 4

Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing but what you see here. I hadn't really planned on starting this chapter so soon but a part of me wanted to go ahead and get on with it! Many thanks to the guest reviewer as well! And now… For a quote. "Mommas! Don't let your babies grow up to be booty!" Big E. of the New Day on WWE Raw.

1:10 PM at the Friar Ranch

The girls and Pappy Joe had had themselves a productive morning by getting the house looking good for their incoming guests and the man had honestly been surprised neither girl had asked him who it was but figured neither of them wanted to seem impolite about it. It had only really taken around forty minutes to get things looking good thanks to all three working together and afterwards the girls got a shower, put on tank tops and shorts, and enjoyed themselves by seeing what ever they could find on tv to be interested in while Pappy Joe sat out on the front porch. The boys had yet to return and the girls figured that they must have been having a really good time doing whatever it is they were doing in showing Farkle the Texas life. The opening of the screen door caught their attention and the newcomer was revealed to be none other than Vanessa. "Hey!" Called out Riley happily with a smile on her face while Maya went back to watching the tv after giving the girl a greeting and nod of her own.

"So the boys left you here huh?" Asked the girl as she came to stand next to the couch after having been informed by Pappy Joe that only the girls were in.

The Blonde Beauty looked over at her. "Yep, Farkle wanted another taste of the good ol' wholesome Texas life."

"He's really come to love it here." Added in Riley with a smile.

"Well that's good to know, what about you two?"

"Its got its charms and I can really see why Lucas missed it a lot."

"What she said." Though for Maya, a part of her wouldn't mind living here as things here had a more simple if wonderful quality. Not to mention the clothing style was actually something she really liked. And she would deny it having anything to do with the Huckleberry and his appreciation of her cowgirl outfits.

"Happy to hear it! Maybe if there's the chance for it before you all leave, the three of us could hang out and get to know one another better?"

"Hey, I'm down. I wouldn't mind hearing a few stories about Butch and Sundance." Maybe use any of it to try and annoy the Huckleberry with too!

"Butch and Sundance?"

"She means Zay and Lucas." Answered Riley who was well versed in all things Maya after years of friendship with her.

Vanessa nodded at that in understanding. "Oh, I see! And yeah I can tell a few stories and then maybe you guys can tell me about the changes that's happened in Zay?" The native Texan was darn curious about that and couldn't wait to hear what brought it on. Especially in regards to that whole people change people bit she remembered him talking about.

"Yeah, sure!" That sounded like a totally fun idea in Riley's view of things while Maya had the thought that maybe Riles wouldn't exactly like some of what she might be told about Lucas.

But the Riley Committee couldn't keep everything from her forever after all and who knows, it might help her best friend to realize the Huckleberry's not the perfect guy she likely may still see him as despite the little she learned after Zay arrived. "Its a plan then!"

One Vanessa looked forward to seeing through very much! A honking could then be heard outside, followed by Pappy Joe calling the girls to come out there with him. Something that made Riley and Maya a bit curious and immediately came outside to see what was going on with Vanessa following along. "Daddy!" Cried out Riley happily.

Around the same time in a field

Lucas, Farkle, and Zay were all worn out, dirty as can be, experiencing what could only be described as a state of shock, and vaguely registering the fact they were hungry. The second encounter with Cain had only wound up happening thanks to a bunch of horses who'd gone running by and Cletus had decided to distract the old bull by getting him to follow him so that the boys wouldn't have to keep running. So far they hadn't seen or heard from the man since and they hoped he was okay. Unfortunately their bad luck had continued thanks to an annoyed rattle snake, a hive of wasps, another mud hole that left Lucas with a limp and Zay questioning his own sanity. They were all thankful that the Sun wasn't too hot that it would leave them sun burnt as that would have just sucked otherwise. The boys were currently making their way back in the direction of the Friar Ranch though the trip was taking some time due to how out of it they were thanks to the events they'd gone through.

A honking had them looking in the direction it came from and Farkle wondered if whether or not the insanity of the morning was starting to make him go nuts. Which if he really cared at the moment, would have been a shame considering his genius intellect but at least he wasn't alone as the other two were likely close to going full on whoo! As well. The honking soon pulled up right in front of them, which was actually coming from a truck with Cletus himself driving it. "Ooh wee! Thank da Lord I found yas! Hop on in!" The boys wearily did as told and got in the truck's bed and stayed pretty much where they were with blank expressions on their faces.

Here's ta hopin' a little rest will help da boys out! Thought the man worriedly as he could clearly see how out of it the three were and he could bet Lukie wouldn't ever think of tryin' to catch ol' Cain ever again!

Heck, he himself had been lucky to make it back to his truck and haul tail from Cain! Course it wound up taking him a good while to find the boys but thankfully he'd been able too.

1:30 PM at the Friar Ranch

After the surprising sight of Topanga, Cory, and Auggie Matthews, along with Katy Hart and Shawn Hunter, the Minkus' and the Babineaux family who had led the way to the Ranch after they had all gotten off the train aside from Katy and Shawn who had made the trip in his truck using his dad's old mobile home, things had calmed down. Or at least as calm as could be when you got a big group happening and a very excited Riley Matthews anyway. Maya had even given props to Pappy Joe for being able to keep this from her and Riley and the older man laughed heartily at the compliment from her and gave her a one arm hugged that the girl honestly loved. The fact that Shawn was with her mother for this trip also made the young artist very happy as well since it was just another sign that the relationship between the two was going really well. And while she'd been curious about the lack of Friars being there with them, it'd been Riley who asked the question on her mind and Zay's father had informed them that they would be arriving either later in the day or sometime tomorrow due to some last minute things Lucas' dad had to do.

The lack of Josh 'Uncle Boing' Matthews was kind of a slight relief for Maya too since that was the last thing she needed on top of the thing with Huckleberry. A room had been set up for the Matthews family while the Babineaux would stay with some family of their own and Shawn and Katy would stay in the mobile home that would be staying on Friar land after Pappy Joe had given the okay. Stuart and Jennifer would be staying at a hotel as well. An interesting revelation had occurred when the girls and the adults aside from Shawn and Pappy Joe had learned that the two knew one another after a random encounter back during Shawn's first road trip after his father's death. The older man had been happy to see that the young man had found himself and Maya had even learned that he'd given Shawn the same 'take life by the horns' speech like he did her before Lucas had rode Tombstone.

Something that Zay's father had revealed that Lucas' mom hadn't been too happy about once she learned of it. And nor had she been impressed with how long he managed to stay on the Bull but his dad on the other hand actually seemed proud of his boy. Riley had asked Pappy Joe why he hadn't mentioned telling Lucas' parents that and he had simply said he hadn't thought it was important he had said anything to their friend's parents. That and he didn't even know about his own son's reaction either but had been aware of his daughter in law's reaction since she had made it clear to him over the phone about an impending lecture the next time she saw him and her son. Maya had gotten a good chuckle from that as she had met the woman herself and had gotten quite the impression about the woman.

As while she may be a sweet woman who loved her son greatly, she was definitely not someone you wanted to annoy! It made her wonder if she'd always been like that or if she'd gotten it from her husband, someone Maya herself had yet to meet despite the few times she'd been over to the Friar house. "So, I couldn't help but notice the boys haven't shown up yet." Pointed out Stuart, as he'd been wondering where his son and comrades were.

"Your boy wanted to experience more of the Texan life and the other two obliged him." Informed Pappy Joe, who honestly figured they would have been back by now unless they were just having too much fun. Hah! Something we all know full well is clearly not the case!

"You should have seen him with the BBQ at Chubbie's Mr. Minkus! Was like he discovered religion or somethin'." Maya said with a smile as the reaction he'd had to it had been awesome!

"CHUBBIES!"

Everyone couldn't help but give Cory a look after that excited shout of his. "Heh… Sorry, I just really love that place!" The fact New York didn't have one of those had always been something the teacher disliked quite a bit.

Both Shawn and Topanga could clearly see where that could potentially lead but neither were particularly inclined to fight against it since they too had loved the place back in Philly, though maybe not as much as Cory had. A honking was then heard and after a look out the window, Pappy Joe saw that it was Cletus and the boys and the group immediately were out the door single file like. "Whoa, they look messed up!" Spoke up Auggie excitedly and everybody had to agree on that statement!

Cletus could be seen trying to get the boys to get down from the truck but none of them were responding. "It appears the Texan life proved to be a bit much for not only Farkle." Commented Stuart glibly and earning himself a swat on the arm from his wife.

Maya would be the one who came up to the stationary boys with Riley trailing along with a concerned look on her face. "Well you guys look like crap." Summed up Maya and getting a reprimand from Riley in the process.

"What!? Its true Riles!"

"But you don't have to say it! I'm sure they already know that!"

Maya couldn't help but shake her head in exasperation as Farkle slowly turned to look right at her and would then do something the girls, Auggie, and the adults would never have expected to happen. Especially from him! "ITS THE CHILD OF CAIN IN HUMAN FORM!" This prompted Lucas and Zay to start freaking out along side him while holding one another as everyone looked on in shock!

Author's Notes: Originally I had it planned to have McCullough Senior bring the boys home after it had gotten pretty late and then for him and Pappy Joe to try and find Cletus who would nearly wind up being Coyote chow after trying to establish peaceful relations thanks to how out of it he was due to the day's events. But alas, things worked out differently. Regardless of that, hope you all enjoyed this and if you are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, then Happy Thanksgiving!